Belgium reached their second ever World Cup semi-final after an enthralling game in Kazan. Brazil had no answer to the Belgian front three of Kevin De Bruyne, Romelu Lukaku and Eden Hazard and though they mounted a spirited second-half comeback could not prevent their exit from the tournament.

Brazil had good chances from two corners in the first 10 minutes but Thiago Silva and Paulinho both fluffed their lines. Instead it was Belgium who took the lead from a corner, Vincent Kompany’s header deflecting in off the unfortunate Fernandinho.

Brazil were without the suspended Casemiro and Belgium, with Marouane Fellaini brought in to reinforce midfield, won the central battle against Fernandinho and Paulinho. That allowed De Bruyne to thrive in more forward role and he scored a wonderful second goal when Belgium broke at speed following a Brazil corner.

The second-half introduction of Roberto Firmino and Douglas Costa gave Brazil more purpose in the final third and their last sub, Renato Augusto, made an instant impact when his header brought Brazil back into the game.

Renato Augusto and Coutinho missed chances to take the match into extra time, and when Thibaut Courtois saved brilliantly from Coutinho in stoppage time, Brazil’s time at the tournament was up.

Matter of fact

This was the first time Brazil have conceded two goals in a game under Tite.

Talking point

Brazil were aggrieved when Vincent Kompany tripped Gabriel Jesus but VAR ruled out the penalty. Neymar also had a late appeal turned down when he missed a header under Thomas Meunier’s challenge; earlier Brazil’s number 10 should have been booked for a dive in the penalty area, but a booking would have ruled him out of a semi-final.

Brazil stepped up a gear to see off Mexico and reach the quarter-finals after a match played in intense heat in Samara. Mexico played their part in an enthralling encounter but exited the tournament at the same stage (last 16) for the seventh successive time.

Mexico began brightly and Brazil struggled to cope with their opponents’ heavy pressing in the first half. But after Neymar opened up the Mexican defence for the breakthrough goal, Mexico faded in the heat as their exertions in the final group defeat to Sweden caught up with them.

GOAL! A one-two made in Brazil. Neymar backheels to Willian who drives into the box before laying it on a plate for Neymar at the back post from close range pic.twitter.com/joILjQClU3

Brazil eased through the gears and into the knockout stage as group winners after goals from Paulinho and Thiago Silva saw off the challenge of Serbia.

Serbia offered little threat in the first half but enjoyed a sustained spell of pressure early after the break. Two headed chances for Aleksandar Mitrovic were not taken and Brazil doubled their advantage from a corner.

Serbia’s intensity dropped off after the second goal although Neymar, enjoying his best game yet in the tournament, went close to extending Brazil’s lead on a number of occasions.

GOAL! Coutinho chips a measured pass forward, Paulinho doesn't have to break stride and just lifts the ball over the onrushing keeper pic.twitter.com/KbfUXDHRa7

Injury-time goals from Philippe Coutinho and Neymar spared Brazil’s blushes and gave them a deserved victory against a stubborn Costa Rica side who almost held on for a point.

Celso Borges missed an early chance but Costa Rica spent the bulk of the game on the back foot as Brazil created a succession of chances – for Neymar, Gabriel Jesus and Coutinho – only to be denied by keeper Keylor Navas and the woodwork.

Substitute Roberto Firmino joined Gabriel Jesus in attack as Brazil switched to a 4-4-2 and the front two combined to set up Coutinho for the late breakthrough.

Neymar, furious when his play-acting culminated in a VAR intervention that reversed a penalty decision, collapsed in tears on the final whistle, soon after claiming Brazil’s second goal.

GOAL! Firmino gets up well to cushion a header into the path of his former Liverpool teammate Coutinho who pokes home pic.twitter.com/gRJJa0FoXh

Neymar’s 56th goal for his country took him to third place in the all-time list, one ahead of Romario but still behind Ronaldo (62) and Pele (77).

Talking point

Neymar was left fuming when referee Bjorn Kuipers reversed his decision to award a penalty after Brazil’s number 10 had fallen under the challenge of Gonzalez claiming his shirt had been pulled. VAR did its job – to stop game-changing errors – when Kuipers changed his mind after reviewing the pitchside monito’\]r and decided that Gonzalez had not pulled Neymar back.

Brazil were frustrated and held to a draw by Switzerland in their opening game after Steven Zuber’s controversial header cancelled out Philippe Coutinho’s spectacular goal.

The pre-tournament favourites took a deserved lead but their play dropped off after scoring the opener and they could not raise their game when Switzerland equalised with Steven Zuber’s header early in the second half.

Neymar, who was heavily fouled throughout, was one of a number of Brazilians who had late chances to grab the winner, but Switzerland, who had no shots on goal after their equaliser, held out.

Valon Behrami became the first Swiss player to appear at four World Cups.

Granit Xhaka and Haris Seferovic were part of the Swiss side that beat a Brazil team containing Alisson, Neymar, Coutinho, Casemiro at the 2009 Under-17 World Cup.

Talking point

The Brazilian federation launched a formal complaint to FIFA about the refereeing, claiming that Switzerland’s equaliser should have been ruled out after a push by Zuber on Miranda just before he jumped to head the ball home, but VAR ruled that the goal stood.

Stats

Brazil/Switzerland

Possession: 52/48

Goal attempts: 20/6

Attempts on target: 9/4

Corners: 7/2

Fouls: 12/19

Pass accuracy: 88/83

Distance covered: 103/108

Brazil World Cup Guide

A desperate struggle – Brazil were down in sixth place with a third of the campaign gone – turned into a triumphant and exhilarating victory parade from the moment that Tite replaced Dunga as coach. Following the new coach’s appointment, Brazil then put together 10 wins and two draws to seal their place at the 2018 World Cup with four rounds to spare. Question marks remain over the team’s temperament, particularly that of Neymar. Against Ecuador he was over-concerned with drawing fouls and a routine game became a tense occasion. He lost control, picked up a yellow card for a crude foul and missed four games through suspension. It remains to be seen whether he or others explode under pressure.

Key Moments in Qualifying

Jun 2016
Failure to get out of the group stage of the Copa Centenario saw coach Dunga lose his job and Tite come in as his replacement.Sep 2016
Tite’s first game, away to Ecuador, was a nervy affair. The game was goalless with 20 minutes to go and Brazil would have probably taken a draw at that point. But debutant Gabriel Jesus forced a penalty, soon after the hosts had a man sent off and the Selecao went on to win 3-0.Nov 2016
A goal up at home to Argentina, Lionel Messi was looking dangerous for the visitors until, on the stroke of half-time, Jesus played a reverse ball into the path of Neymar, who put the game beyond their rivals’ reach.Mar 2017
Brazil did show they may have resolve as well as talent by winning 4-1 in Uruguay after going a goal behind.

Tite, age 56 (25.05.61)
Appointed in June 2016, he is an intelligent and charismatic figure who won domestic, continental and world titles with Corinthians before taking time off to carry out an in-depth study of top-class European football.

Inspired: New coach Tite inspired Brazil to top their qualification group (Getty Images)

The PlayersStars
Coming into his peak years, Neymar is full of dazzling improvisation at pace and is a constant threat. Providing he can keep his head, this World Cup could be his tournament.Stalwarts Paulinho was a controversial recall, but Tite is well aware of his virtues from their time together at Corinthians.DebutsGabriel Jesus came in and immediately solved Brazil’s centre-forward problem, scoring seven goals despite only starting half the games. But will he be jaded after a first full season in the Premier League? The appearance of goalkeeper Ederson in the final game may be telling.

Probable Starting XI

Brazil World Cup Injuries

Neymar fractured his metatarsal for Paris Saint Germain and it is questionable whether he will be 100% fit by June.

Dani Alves has suffered a knee injury and will miss the tournament.

Dazzling: Neymar is nearly on the same level as Messi and Ronaldo, but his head occasionally explodes (Getty Images)

The Unanswered Questions

Have they been truly tested yet?
Tite’s team were magnificent against a disappointing crop of South American rivals, but stiffer tests lie ahead. That point was illustrated by the collapse of Argentina’s defence against Nigeria on the same day Brazil were held by an inexperienced England side.

Vulnerable: Dani Alves and Marcelo are rampaging full-backs. But they leave a lot of space behind them (Getty Images)

Would the side benefit from appointing a permanent captain?
Without a natural candidate for the role of on-field leader, Tite has been choosing a different skipper for every match and plans to continue doing so in Russia. Brazil sides have often been at their best with a vocal leader.

Can they cover the vulnerable space behind the full-backs?
Both Dani Alves and Marcelo are rampaging attacking full-backs but neither is great defensively. Opponents will surely seek to probe the space they leave behind them. With Alves picking up his injury, Tite does have options at right back though.

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